Martin Luther Timeline

Birthdate

1483

Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Saxony

Education

1502

Luther receives a liberal arts degree and then a master’s degree. He begins law school.

Entering a Monastery

1505

Luther abruptly abandons the study of law and enters a monastery after a violent thunderstorm frightens him so badly that he vows to become a monk if he survives.

Receives Doctorate

1512

He received his doctorate in the fall of 1512 and assumed the professorship in biblical studies, which was supplied by the Augustinian order.

Spiritual Realization

1513

He realized the key to spiritual salvation was not to fear God or be enslaved by religious dogma but to believe that faith alone would bring salvation. This period marked a major change in his life and set in motion the Reformation.

Luther Posts the 95 Theses

1517

Martin Luther posted 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. Luther was criticizing the churches use of selling indulgences that were said to 'grant forgiveness' but were just for the church's profit.

Debate

1519

Martin Luther had a debate at Leipzig in July 1519 with the formidable theologian Johannes Eck, Luther stood his ground in what was interpreted as a direct challenge to papal authority. Eck was later instrumental in urging Pope Leo to issue the papal bull, or edict, condemning Luther's views as heresy and threatening him with excommunication.

Accusation of heresy

1520

Pope Leo promulgated the bull condemning Luther's unrepentant indictment of the Catholic Church in June 1520, and an official copy finally reached Luther at Wittenberg in October. This accuses Luther of heresy and issues an ultimatum: recant the heretical statements in the Ninety-five Theses and other writings within sixty days or face excommunication.

Excommunicated

1521

Declared a heretic by the church, the Holy Roman Empire now tried Luther as an outlaw. At the Imperial Diet of Worms, convened in April 1521, Emperor Charles V condemned him as an outlaw of the empire in the so-called Edict of Worms. Now an enemy of both church and state, Luther could be apprehended or even killed on sight but continued his writings.

Return to Wittenberg

1522

Luther returns to Lutherstadt Wittenberg and sets off a series of theological and social reforms, such as education for all. He encourages musicians and poets to write music and hymns for church services.